Hurricanes and Panthers Battle for the 305: loanDepot Park Edition

Miami, Florida – The Battle for the 305 is back with a twist: The Miami Hurricanes and FIU Panthers contest will be on the Miami Marlins’ turf at loanDepot. Both programs look to bounce back from disappointing seasons finishing with the same 27-30 record overall. The first meeting of four was originally scheduled to be played at FIU. However, successful talks between the interested parties resulted in a college rivalry to be played on a Major League field that happens to be the site of the former Orange Bowl. Coach Rich Witten is Florida International’s fifth head coach entering his third year. Although it was not a winning season, the 27 victories were the most since 2018. Conversely,  coach J.D. Arteaga is in year two of his tenure as UM’s 10th head coach in program history. FIU (11-2) comes in on a four-game winning streak while Miami (9-3) returns home fresh off a big series-salvaging win over the eighth-ranked Florida Gators.

It’s officially official 🙌

We’re taking on FIU at @loanDepotpark on March 4th at 7 PM!

🎟️: https://t.co/s9J85lcaCu pic.twitter.com/Z59XHhSVZC

— Miami Hurricanes Baseball (@CanesBaseball) February 22, 2025

These two ballclubs last met on a neutral field in February 2004. Back then the fifth-ranked Hurricanes beat the Panthers 9-7 at Homestead Sports Complex. Miami took three out of four last season despite FIU snapping a 12-game winning streak. The Panthers won 9-7 in the penultimate matchup at The Light. Florida International has not dominated the rivalry since winning five of six meetings in the 2017 and 2018 seasons. UM leads the all-time series over FIU 105-31 including a 6-1 advantage against their crosstown rival in neutral site games.

The season so far

Florida International has got off to a fast start. After sweeping Stonehill in a four-game series the Panthers crushed Bethune-Cookman in their first midweek of the season and took two out of three versus Delaware. They stumbled at South Florida and then bounced back sweeping Merrimack in another four-game series.

Those speed drills are paying off, Daniel! 🔥

Canes are up 8-4! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/gyMesM8Ntd

— Miami Hurricanes Baseball (@CanesBaseball) March 2, 2025

Miami, meanwhile, found similar success in the season’s early stages. Crushing Niagara throughout the opening weekend, the Canes briefly stumbled versus FAU before punishing Princeton with their four-game sweep. The second midweek contest resulted in a home win over FGCU serving as a primer for their first true test of the season, a road trip to face the eighth-ranked Gators. After two frustrating losses to UF and slow starts at the plate, the Canes finally came out swinging avoiding the sweep.

Players to Watch

FIU

HE DID IT AGAIN @kishfrett 😳

That’s three straight games with a HR for Kishon! Has ten hits in the series already! pic.twitter.com/LNnbOpiSjd

— FIU Baseball (@FIUBaseball) March 2, 2025

The Panthers returned 20 players bringing in 13 transfers and seven freshmen as part of an ongoing effort to obtain their first winning record since 2018. Alex Ulloa and Brylan West are again headlining this year’s lineup. Ulloa had an impressive 2024 producing a .335 batting average including eight doubles, 12 home runs, and 38 RBIs. He’s currently hitting .321 with an OPS of .843 heading into Tuesday night’s game. Concurrently, West tattooed the ball last season hitting .328 with 16 doubles, 11 dingers, and 42 RBIs. The Tampa native is now hitting .396 leading in doubles (5) collecting seven RBIs.

swept the doubleheader 🧹 🧹 @WilliamsonAuto Drive of the Game pic.twitter.com/epPmophrEQ

— FIU Baseball (@FIUBaseball) March 2, 2025

Albert Serrano started in almost every game for Wagner last year hitting .280 with an .805 OPS knocking in 32 runs. In 11 starts, Serrano is hitting .286 with a .976 OPS, and a team-leading 14 RBIs. Kishon Frett played in 50 games for FIU as a redshirt junior and was the team’s top slugger recording a program-leading 16 home runs. Frett currently hits .412 with a 1.393 OPS already claiming five dingers and 12 RBIs.

On the mound, Tuesday’s starter is likely Logan Runde. Runde, who has not allowed a run in 13 innings of work, is a good option against the Hurricanes. Reliever Juan Villarreal offers an effective changeup aiding him in obtaining a 1.50 ERA and a sharp 0.67 WHIP. If that wasn’t enough, he has 20 strikeouts in 12 innings. Jarek Woodward doubles as a stopper. He has good command walking nine batters in nearly 55 and two-thirds innings for Seattle University. The redshirt junior thus far has 13 K’s over 9.2 innings with a 2.79 ERA. He pitched on Saturday, starting in game two of the doubleheader giving up two runs on six hits through four innings.

Pure filth 😤 @juanvilla2810

M7 | Merrimack 10, FIU 14 pic.twitter.com/jrydyhXMmC

— FIU Baseball (@FIUBaseball) March 2, 2025

Miami

Daniel Cuvet leads the Cardiac Canes after slashing a program leading .351/.429/.736 complemented by a 1.165 OPS his freshman year. Danny Dingers got off to a slow start but is now hitting .308 with two homers and eight RBIs. UM dug deep into the transfer portal to shore up the hitting. Jake Ogden arrived from UNC Greensboro hitting .313 including 54 runs, 10 doubles, 16 stolen bases, and eight round trippers. So far, Ogden is playing as advertised batting .383 with a .995 OPS complemented by a pair of home runs and 12 RBIs.

CLEAR THOSE BASES, BOBBY!!

📺: SEC Network+ pic.twitter.com/DKMzCdSqvh

— Miami Hurricanes Baseball (@CanesBaseball) March 2, 2025

Oklahoma State transfer Max Galvin sat out 2024 due to injury. He played over the summer, hitting .344 with 18 doubles, 13 home runs, and 70 RBIs. He is now batting .333 with 10 RBIs and four steals. Bobby Marsh, meanwhile, is hitting .310 leading in doubles (5) and RBIs (23).

Jeez Jake 😳🔥

📺: SEC Network+ pic.twitter.com/80I8ifFehk

— Miami Hurricanes Baseball (@CanesBaseball) March 1, 2025

Miami could tap either Reese Lumpkin or Alex Giroux for Tuesday. Lumpkin has been the midweek starter thus far pitching against FAU and FCGU going 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA striking out 12 in nine and a third innings of work. Giroux has one appearance on the mound, a six-inning quality start versus Princeton allowing a run on two hits and striking out five. When it comes to the relief corps we may see Carson Fischer and Will Smith put in some work. Each saw action Sunday tossing at least two frames. Fishcer’s ERA grew to 3.86 punching out nine through seven innings. Smith stands at a 2.70 ERA with the same strikeouts through 6.2 IP.

Prediction

Despite the win, the Florida series was difficult for the Hurricanes. It showed Griffin Hugus is Miami’s top pitcher but there’s a lot of work to be done elsewhere. UM isn’t close to where it wants to be. They will roll into Tuesday ready to build momentum against FIU which hasn’t faced a challenging opponent thus far. It will come down to the pitching of both the starter and bullpen. The Cardiac Canes triumph 6-4.